Early summer sees wave of larger farm launches

Midsummer sees a flurry of significant launches including a coastal arable estate, an established arable and livestock farm and a Welsh dairy holding that was home to one of the UK’s top Holstein-Friesian herds.

With both farming appeal and opportunities to generate income from renewable energy, Higher Farm and Estate at Langton Herring, Weymouth, presents a rare opportunity to purchase a substantial block of productive farmland in a breathtaking setting, says Will Matthews of selling agent Knight Frank.

Of the 996 acres included in the sale, much is arable land, with 34 acres identified as having potential for solar and other renewable energy projects.

Interest from solar developers extends to another part of this Dorset farm too; two fields are subject to an overage until 2031 requiring the buyer to pay a percentage of any uplift in value to be passed to that vendor if the land is developed during that period.

See also: Bunch of five farms offers choice under 250 acres

The overage will only kick in if the development is delivered by one previously agreed provider, says Will.

Farm buildings include livestock accommodation and a grain drying shed.

One barn has been converted into a four-bedroom dwelling and there is also a two-bedroom cottage.

Knight Frank is guiding the sale at £10.6m and is also lotting it five ways.

Dumfries and Galloway

Townhead Farm, Dumfries and Galloway © Savills

A 755-acre ring-fenced farm in the same ownership since 1954 is coming to the market near Dumfries at a guide price of £4.2m.

Townhead Farm at Parkgate has a mix of permanent and ploughable pasture and arable and rough grazing land, interspersed with woodland.

The farm is suited to beef, sheep and arable production, says selling agent Savills.

Its land type ranges from 3(2), 4 and 5, according to the Land Capability for Agriculture (Scotland) classification.

It has grown a range of crops, producing winter barley yields of up to 4t/acre and spring barley at up to 3t/acre.

A sizeable steading has accommodation for cattle and storage for grain and machinery in modern sheds, along with former byres with redevelopment potential.

Residential accommodation is provided by a five-bedroom farmhouse.

Carmarthenshire dairy

Llandeilo Abercowin, Carmarthenshire © Roger Parry Partners

On the banks of the Carmarthenshire Estuary in Wales, a 335-acre fully equipped dairy farm is launching this week.

David and Wendy Morris had produced milk at Llandeilo Abercowin from a pedigree high-yielding Holstein-Friesian herd which they dispersed two years ago.

The 250-cow herd recorded in the top 1% with National Milk Records on yield and breeding, producing 12,000 litres a cow a year mostly from grass and maize silage.

About 225 acres of the land is grassland for grazing and silage.

The red sandstone soil is capable of growing high-yielding crops, with a significant acreage having been cropped with maize in recent years. There are tracks throughout the farm.

As well as 14 acres of woodland there are 90 acres of salt marsh, which can be grazed from April to September.

Selling agent Roger Parry says this land is very efficient for fattening livestock.

“As the salt marsh is classified as agricultural it also provides great opportunities for environmental schemes that can generate a useful income alongside the main farm business,” he says.

The estuary forms a part of the Aber Taf site of special scientific interest.

The farm has been run with clear thought to the position of the buildings to facilitate flow of cattle, fodder and muck, Roger adds. It covers more than 3,700sq m, with mostly modern steel portal framed buildings.

A 20×20 herringbone milking parlour is fitted with automatic cake feeders, supported by a 15,500-litre milk bulk tank.

There are cubicle places for 322 animals and the main shed has automatic scrapers and feed barriers.

A slurry store has capacity for 5,250cu m and silage clamps for more than 2,500t.

The farm comes with three dwellings – a four-bedroom farmhouse, a detached three-bedroom house previously let as a holiday cottage, and another three-bedroom house built in 2010.

The farm includes the ruins of a small church which is now a scheduled monument.

Roger Parry & Partners is guiding the sale at £5.25m for the whole and is also lotting it four ways.